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Why getting in touch with our ‘gerbil brain’ could help machines listen better

Researchers have debunked a 75-year-old theory about how humans determine where sounds are coming from, and it could unlock the secret to creating a next generation of more adaptable and efficient hearing devices ranging from hearing aids to smartphones.

Human ‘neural compass’ pinpointed in new study

A pattern of brain activity that helps prevent us from getting lost has been identified in a new study.

New study reveals age-related brain changes influence recovery after stroke

A new study has revealed that areas of age-related damage in the brain relate to motor outcomes after a stroke — a phenomenon that may be under-recognized in stroke research. The new observational study looked at the relationship between stroke recove…

Small molecule shows early-stage promise for repairing myelin sheath damage

A breakthrough study appears to overcome difficulties that have long frustrated previous attempts to reverse a form of nerve damage that robs people with MS of motor control and gradually blunts cognitive functions for many people as they age.

Low intensity light to fight the effects of chronic stress

Some neurological disorders can be improved through photobiomodulation, a non-invasive technique based on the application of low-intensity light to stimulate altered functions in specific regions of the body. Now, a study reveals how photobiomodulation…

How the brain’s arousal center helps control visual attention too

Neuroscientists have artificially increased neuronal activity in part of the brain by briefly shining light on genetically modified neurons. They saw that this manipulation selectively enhanced performance in non-human primates performing a visual atte…

Research breakthrough on birth defect affecting brain size

A team has identified a molecular cellular mechanism that is linked to microencephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is much smaller than expected.

Brain imaging study reveals connections critical to human consciousness

A new study involved high-resolution scans that enabled the researchers to visualize brain connections at submillimeter spatial resolution. Together, these pathways form a ‘default ascending arousal network’ that sustains wakefulness in the resting, co…

Sleep resets brain connections — but only for first few hours

During sleep, the brain weakens the new connections between neurons that had been forged while awake — but only during the first half of a night’s sleep, according to a new study.

Nutrient research reveals pathway for treating brain disorders

The team discovered that an essential nutrient called choline is transported into the brain, across the blood-brain barrier, by a protein transporter called FLVCR2. This is discovery will inform future design of drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer’s a…